FORT COLLINS — The one certain aspect of a Jim McElwain press conference is one should expect a twist.

Such as linking his all-conference tackle Ty Sambrailo to Shirley Jones during media day on Tuesday.

Really, it makes sense. This is a coach who freely shared the information that he had Kajagoogoo on his playlist a few years back.

"The visual I have is ... OK, let's talk about the Partridge Family," McElwain started, referring to the 1970s sitcom and linking it to his one returning starter on the offensive line. "Let's go back now. You know at the beginning where there's the big partridge and then there's these little partridges following along ... That guy is the leader of the Partridge Family, and it's awesome."

Sambrailo looks more like David Cassidy with the hair and all, and yes, he has no idea about the show. He won't find it on Netflix, but he said he would check it out on YouTube. Here's the the opening credits for those who are lost:

"It really is kind of an interesting thing, because you see this guy leading these guys around and they're taking it in," McElwain said. "Ty obviously has a lot on his plate."

Naturally, the players are kind of used to this behavior from their coach, so he played along.

"I don't even know. I was warned about that," he said. "I got a little bit. It's like the older leader and the kids kind of following them around. That was the analogy I was presented. What was it, Sally? Susan? I'm going to have to check that out."

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As for who fits the role of Danny, McElwain wasn't ready for a character lineup. Still, these are the types of things McElwain throws out from time to time, be it Marcus Welby, M.D. or Dr. Bombay references when giving injury updates or tagging coaches and staff around him with nicknames from shows past.

"One thing you have to understand, we not only talk about football, we talk about important things in life," McElwain said. "Like name the guys in the Brady Bunch. Who were they? Those are important, like iconic things guys need to know. I'm sure before it's done we'll talk a little bit about the episode that Marsha Brady had a crush on Davy Jones. I mean, some things like that that are really important."

Playing early — In each of McElwain's two seasons, he's had true freshmen on the field, a trend that won't end this season from the way he spoke Tuesday.

"I will not anoint any young guys. At the same time, I think you're going to see we did a pretty job recruiting in this class, and we've got some parts that are going to be able to help us this year," he said. "That's a good thing. That's what we're striving to do, build and get better every day."

If there is a position group that is most ripe for the picking, it could be the secondary. The Rams brought in seven new defensive backs (not all true freshmen), and co-defensive coordinator Al Simmons has let them know they should be ready to go. Not just competing against themselves, but for jobs.

"I've probably expressed it to them five or six times already," he said.

Size matters — Defensive end Joe Kawulok showed up on campus at 210 pounds, and the Rams have been trying to add weight on him every since. Mission accomplished, as the Monarch product is up to 260 pounds, which he said will make a huge difference for him.

On the flip side, Longmont grad Justin Hansen has shed pounds, which could be just as good for the Rams. He was around 320 pounds last year, which the coaches said affected his mobility and stamina.

"I mean, we hope so, and that will be determined," co-defensive coordinator Marty English said about possible increased playing time. "He's down to 290-something, 292 I think. He's done a great job of doing what we asked him to do. Now it's just a matter of getting enough reps to see."

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